Legion XIII unveiled as LIV Golf’s first expansion team
Legion XIII unveiled as LIV GOLF’s first expansion team with the signing of Tyrrell Hatton and top amateur Caleb Surratt.
Media release
London, New York and West Palm Beach, FL (January 30, 2024) – LIV Golf today announced its first expansion team, Legion XIII, the first new team to join the league since its inception in 2022. Captained by two-time major winner and reigning Masters champion, Jon Rahm, Legion XIII will begin competing at the league’s season-opening event, LIV Golf Mayakoba, teeing off this Friday at El Camaleon Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time and are extremely proud of the team and brand we are building,” said Rahm. “As we were developing the team’s brand it became clear that I wanted to fight alongside a group of guys who aligned perfectly with what the team stands for. Tyrrell is a fierce competitor, proven champion, and of course my Ryder Cup teammate. Caleb is one of the brightest next gen stars of the game. And Kieran is a steady, talented ball striker who earned his promotion to LIV and is elevating his game every day.”
“The introduction of Legion XIII is a testament to LIV Golf’s continued growth as our league builds for the long-term,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “Jon Rahm is one of the top competitors in the world and his team will make an immediate impact on the league both on and off the golf course. I’m thrilled to welcome his new teammates, Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and young gun Caleb Surratt, along with LIV Golf Promotions standout Kieran Vincent, who will undoubtedly be great additions to the league. This is another exciting moment in the natural evolution of LIV Golf and the future for the sport.”
The Legion XIII roster was finalized following the recent signings of Tyrrell Hatton (England), Caleb Surratt (United States), and Kieran Vincent (Zimbabwe).
JON RAHM – The Spaniard has amassed 20 wins over his career, including the 2023 Masters, 2021 U.S. Open, and the DP World Tour Championship three times (2017, 2019, 2022). Rahm has played in three consecutive Ryder Cups, helping lead Team Europe to victory in 2018 and 2023. Last year, Rahm won four times while also finishing tied for second in the 151st Open Championship and tied for fifth in the DP World Tour Championship.
TYRRELL HATTON – Hatton has been a fixture on the last three European Ryder Cup teams, playing a crucial role in reclaiming the cup (alongside Rahm) in the 2023 match, where he captured 3.5 out of 4 points. A six-time champion on the DP World Tour, Hatton has won four Rolex Series titles, including a victory at Europe’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The Brit has been ranked in the top 10 in the world and claimed his maiden PGA Tour title in 2020 at The Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“I’m really excited for this next chapter, to link up with Jon Rahm and Legion XIII, and to get started this week in Mexico,” said Hatton.
CALEB SURRATT – One of the top amateur golfers in the world turns pro to join Legion XIII. Surratt won three of a possible four points in his 2023 Walker Cup debut, one of many outstanding performances for the decorated amateur. The North Carolina native enjoyed an illustrious college career, becoming the first University of Tennessee player to receive first-team All-America honors while also winning the 2023 SEC Championship individual title – the first freshman to do so since Justin Thomas in 2012.
“The opportunity to turn pro and be a part of Jon Rahm’s team is truly a special opportunity that is a great fit for me. I’m excited about the chance to compete and begin my professional career here in Mayakoba,” said Surratt.
KIERAN VINCENT – Vincent excelled at LIV Golf Promotions, the league’s inaugural three-day showdown in December 2023, to secure one of the three qualifying spots up for grabs through the tournament. The Zimbabwean turned pro in 2022 and played collegiately at Liberty University. He joins his brother, Scott (Iron Heads GC), as the only brother duo in the league.
Pulling from the attitude attributes of ‘proud’, ‘determined’, and ‘true’, Rahm infused his team’s DNA with honesty, emotion, and a sense of togetherness. United under the mantra ‘Together we play. Together we conquer.’, Legion XIII is bred by passion, energized by power, and full of pride.
“I wanted to go down the warrior spirit mythology side for the team’s name,” said Rahm. “The term loyalty is very important for me – I think it embodies the warrior spirit through its decisiveness and ready-for-battle mindset. During the Roman Empire, there was the iconic Legion XIII Gemina in Caesar’s army. They believed in the credo of faithful loyalty.”
“Our first expansion team had to offer something new for fans to get involved with,” said LIV Golf Creative Director Will Newell. “This Legion, this collective, is all about bringing people together as a force to be reckoned with. Jon’s no-nonsense attitude fuels Legion XIII – all-heart, no half-measures and never afraid to be exactly who you are.”
“The XIII portion of the name was appealing early in the process as it fit the structure of captain (X) and the three players in the lineup (III),” said Rahm. “Plus, we are the 13th team in the league. As for the logo, that was something I was also very passionate about. The soccer team I grew up following (Athletic Bilbao) is called the Lions. It’s just a fierce animal that everybody respects and fears at the same time.”
